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Shôgun: A Stick of Time (2024)
A leap in time
First thing's first, yes. I have read the book. And going into this, I was concerned. James Clavell's vision is so precise, so clean, you can't possibly imagine it could be brought to screen. And yet, it was. And it is being done beautifully. Shogun is raw, faithful to the time period, and holds nothing back. Hiroyuki Sanada's presence elevates this story to unspeakable heights. I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, but this show has brought me so much joy. We are but a few episodes away from the finale but I can't fathom even the slightest dip in quality, because you can tell that Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks respect the source material but also have a tremendous passion for the story they're telling. I'll admit, I'm bitter. Game of Thrones really disappointed me. I've witnessed what happens when you stray from the source material and let your ego guide you. Thankfully, this isn't the case with Shogun. It saddens me that we won't get a season two, just because of how brilliant this show is, but it also urges me to say- hats off to both creators. Thank you for honoring the passion and thank you respecting your audience's time in choosing not to drag this on. Knowing what to do is worthy of praise, but knowing when to leave is even more important. As it is now, this show is perfect to me and I have no doubt they'll stick the landing. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith: A Breakup (2024)
"I like Jane"
First thing's first - killing Max was unnecessary. It made this final episode a hard watch for me because I viewed his death as a huge loss for Jane/Alana, almost like losing a family member. There's an emotional imbalance between her and John going into their final confrontation and it rubbed me the wrong way.
Now that I got that out of my system, let's get into the actual episode. 'A Breakup' was solid, very much in keeping with the spirit of the show. There's more action this time around which is always a plus for me. Some of my favorite characters from previous episodes return, we learn the truth about Hot Neighbor, we finally meet John's mother, and John & Jane are finally (and hilariously) honest with each other. It's good. But is it great?
I had my doubts when I first started watching the show. The pacing felt slow for me. There were many drawn-out scenes where our Protagonists talk... for a really really long time. Now, I don't mind slow paced things with good scripts. Sometimes the banter was endearing. But other times it was frustrating. The upside is that it never felt unnatural. And as I watched, it clicked for me that Mr & Mrs Smith may not be what most people expect. The plot doesn't carry much weight here. It's not a blood-pumping action extravaganza. It is a story about two special people in special circumstances who fall in love.
This really is the show's biggest strength in my opinion. I enjoyed watching these two bounce off of each other way more than I thought I would. Once it was over and I took a step back to judge it as a whole, I realized that Maya Erskine was the star of the show for me. The best way I can explain it is - Donald Glover is one insanely cool guy and you can see him infusing his character with that inherent coolness. Whereas Maya, to me, seemed cool without even trying. There's an effortlessness and a naturalness in her performance that took me completely by surprise. After hearing her voice performance in Blue Eye Samurai, I was excited to put a face to the name and I can confirm that yes, she's just as awesome on screen.
This show is not a masterpiece by any means, but it is a refreshing take on the idea we first saw in the 2005 film. If there's one thing I'm taking with me from this viewing is my new-found admiration for Maya Erskine. I sincerely cannot wait to see what she does next. And unlike The Rings Of Power, which crushed my Tolkien loving heart, I wouldn't mind a second season of Mr & Mrs Smith at all.
Klaus & Barroso (2024)
No low hanging fruit
It's a rare thing, coming across a Romanian comedy that actually delivers good quality comedy with no low hanging fruit. There's no swearing in this, no cheap nudity, no mention of communists or corruption which I'm personally fed up with when it comes to local films. The movie is refreshingly self-aware at times, poking fun at its own existence in the grand landscape of Romanian cinema and its questionable reputation. You could swap this for any language and still have a great time and that's how you know you have a solid flick on your hands. Nedelcu & Nicolae's chemistry is on point, but the stand outs for me were Victoria Raileanu and Madalina Craiu who are crazy likeable without even trying. Female rage is done so well here. Another big up for Rolando Matsangos who is a total scene stealer. There's something theater-esque about it, the single location, the heightened performances, the verbose dialogue, but it never feels overwhelming or boring- a credit to the director. I expected a more in depth conclusion with the loan shark debacle. The entire movie rests on it but he's in it for only a few seconds, I could tell the scene was shaved off during editing. The movie rushes to the ending for no reason, almost like it's scared to overstay its welcome. For that reason alone, I shaved off some points. Can't believe I'm saying this but I'd actually love a sequel!
The Idol (2023)
Soulless
This only gets 3 stars from me because it's clear that Lily-Rose is doing the best she can with what she was given. But my goodness, this was a painful watch. Abel Tesfaye was severely misscast which makes this awkward, since the entire thing was his idea. Levinson's vision feels contrived, lacking every bit of that magic he created with Season 1 of Euphoria. The show just misses the mark, relying on nothing but nudity and shock value. The dialogue is vapid, the story is misguided. Points for lighting and camera work but that's about it. There are better shows to watch out there. This one isn't worth your time.
Irma Vep: The Terrible Wedding (2022)
Where was Laurie?
While the inclusion of Kristen Stewart as Lianna was a most pleasant surprise and a cheeky nod to her and Olivier Assayas' past collaborations, I couldn't not be distracted by Adria Arjona's absence in the finale. Laurie was one of my favorite characters in the whole show and I guess I was waiting for as little as a conversation between her and our protagonist before the wrap up. Overall, the show is made by and for cinephiles and a wonderful exploration of the ever changing film industry, ushering in a new generation. It is hypnotizing and delightful and definitely worth your time.
Euphoria: All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name (2022)
You're confused? I'm confused bro!
So we obviously knew we'd get a Season 3 and some things would be unpacked later on. HOWEVER, it's becoming increasingly irritating how so many plot points that were established in the first and second season were left unresolved. Jules, like Kat, is sidelined for no reason and her relationship with Rue - that larger than life, Shakespearian romance for the ages - is reduced to nothing. We have a good (albeit way too long) musical moment for Dominic Fike who was previously established as an agent of chaos, for no apparent reason. But perhaps the most confusing aspect is how the biggest plotline in this season is left up in the air... So here's to spending the next 1-2 years wondering "What about Laurie's money?"
Scenes from a Marriage: Innocence and Panic (2021)
Constant & ravishing
The episode keeps such a wonderful momentum throughout its entire runtime that I found it incredibly difficult to turn away from the screen even for a second. While each character has plenty of things to figure out with and for themselves, Oscar and Jessica are at their best when they're together. There is so much to unravel here, so much these two sweep under the rug and rip out of themselves that by the end you are just waiting for the volcano to erupt. And let's face it, we all know it's coming...
Euphoria: Fuck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob (2021)
Mesmerizing
There's something so enthralling in the way this episode is written and paced. Every gut wrenching moment cuts deep, every emotional beat hits its mark and every intimate tether is something like a gut punch leaving you with a feeling of unease. Rév's cinematography and Levinson's direction are brilliant as always but it's the two leading actresses' performances and undeniable chemistry that really set this show miles above anything else on television right now. The pieces fall into place so perfectly that it really makes you wonder where Hunter Schafer has been hiding all this time...
Euphoria: Trouble Don't Last Always (2020)
Breathtaking
This episode feels like an out of body experience. From the soundtrack to the dialogue, the two leads' acting and effervescent lighting all blend together to bring an achievement of television programming to our screens. An absolutely breathtaking 60 minutes that pry open the human mind and splice the many layers in between. This episode was nothing I expected and everything I needed.